Axle-lubricator



(No Model.) 7

B. EDGAR.

AXLE LU3R10ATOR.. No. 466,399. Patented Jan. 5, 1 892.

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' pense for renewals and'repairs.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

BUTLER EDGAR, OF SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,399, dated January5, 1892.

' Application filed September5, 1891. Serial No. 404,846. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BUTLER EDGAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sunbury, in the county of Northumberland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAxle-Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates toaxle-lubricators ;and it consists in a simpledevice for supplying the journals of axles with a constant and amplesupply of lubricant.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference-signsrefer tocorresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure l is alongitudinal. sectional view of an axle-box. Fig. 2 isa cross-section ofthe same on the Fig.3 is a horizontal section showing the axle in dottedlines; and Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 1, showing a differentform of retaining-block.

The present practice 'in lubricating axleboxes is defective in manyrespects and results in many delays to trains and much ex- 7 7 Thus thespace within the box around'and beneath the journal of the axle iscommonly packed with cotton waste which is saturated with oil. Thisrenders it difficult to judge of the proper amount of oil necessary tosupply the box, and thus the oil maybe wasted by pouring in too much, oran insufficient amount may be supplied. Moreover, the particles wornfrom the bearing and the sand and other gritty particles which alwaysfind their wayinto the boxes gather on top of the Waste and in contactwith the journal and produce rapid wear both of the journal and itsbearing. Furthermore, when the waste becomes a little dry the bearingand journal become heated and set fire to it, and the heat of theburning waste unites with the frictional heat to destroy the axle.

My present inventign consistsin providing the axle-box with a layerofballs substantially covering the bottom of the box beneath the journaland made of suitable buoyant material, which shall float freely upon thesurface of the oil and by their revolution,

' when the axle is in motion, carry a supply of oil to the journal.

A further object of my invention is to prohaving a journal 1) within thebox.

yide a lubricating device which may be applied quickly and ataslightexpense to any of the common forms of journals and axle-boxes.

In the drawings, A indicates an axle-box of a pattern commonly used, andB the axle, The box is provided with the usual lid a, and the journalsupports a bearingc, which is held in place by a key cl. Below thejournal are buoyant balls or spheres E, sufficient in number to nearlycover the bottom of the box, there being left suflicient space to enablethe balls to move freely in any direction. As shown in Fig. 3, there aretwo rows of four balls and one short row of three balls. As thedirection of movement of the car changes the balls will change placesand the short row will change from side to side, being always on theforward side of the axle. These balls are preferably formed of lightwood, either in the natural state or coated with material impervious tooil. They may, however, be formed of any other materialsuch, forinstance, as sheet metal, glass, or celluloid. They should besufficiently buoyant to float with a large portionof their surface abovethe level of the oil. In size I prefer to make the balls small enough toadmit of their being inserted and withdrawn while the axle is in placeWithin the box. Those floating at the sides of the box mayoccasionallytend to run out past the end flange b of the axle, and I mayemploy various means to prevent this. Thusin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I haveshown a retaining block F arranged across the box at the end of theaxle, thus preventing the escape of any of the balls. This block isremovable and may be lifted out by means of a staple or other hand-holdf. It is prevented from sliding too far in by a shoulder f, which restsagainst the flange h.

hen the boxes are made especially with a view to using my improvedlubricator, flanges a may be cast upon either side of the interior and aretaining block or slide G removably held between them, as shown in Fig.4.

In operation the balls near the center of the box will come in contactwith the journal of the axle and be rotated by it, thus carrying the oilup to the journal. The movement of the car sidewise, due to theunevenness of the track, will cause the balls to v circulate in thedirection of the length of the axle and thus to successively lubricateevery portion of the journal. 15y permitting the balls to haveconsiderable play in all directions they will con- 5 tinually changetheir axes of revolution and thus Wear equally upon all sides and retaintheir spherical form. It will be evident that it is impossible for theballs to become in any Way jammed in the box on account of the amplespace which is allowed for their movement. \Vhen it is desired to cleanoutthe box, which only need be done at long intervals, theretainingblock is lifted out. The balls may then be quickly removed andwiped off and then replaced after the dirt is taken from the bottom ofthe box.

lVith my improved lubricating device there can be no wear of the journaldue to grit or metal chips from the bearing, as the same will BUTLEREDGAR.

Witnesses:

J. H. ROCKEFELLER, JEREMIAH SAVIDGE.

